Jar-closing machine



1 495,652 May 27, 1924 1-, TALIAFERRO JAR CLOSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet May 27, 1924.

T. L. TALIAFERRO JAR CLOSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 27 1924.

T. L. TALIAFERRO JAR CLOSING MACHINE.

Filed Dec. 30. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 27, 1924. I 1,495,652

T. L. TALIAFERRO JAR CLOSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 27 1924.

T. L. TALIAFERRO JAR CLOSING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 27 1924. 1,495,552

T. TALIAFERRO JAR CLOS ING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 27, 1924.

THOMAS LUCIEN TALIAFERRO, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

JAR-CLOSING MACHINE.

Application filed December 30, 1920. Serial No. 434,139.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. TAL A- FERRO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in J ar-Closlng Machines, of Which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of reference 1 marked thereon.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in closing machines, and more particularly to a machine for securing a metal cap to a glass or porcelain ar.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine through which the jars may pass continuously and in succession and wherein the jars are supported at the mouth during the reshaping of the metal cap to secure it to the jar.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine'of the above character wherein the supporting and reshaping means also serve to feed or convey the jars from the machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a supporting and conveying means which operates simultaneously to feed or convey the jar, and to reshape the metal cap at both sides of the mouth of the ar.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type wherein the conveying and reshaping means is in the form of a rotating shaft having a thread or threads formed thereon which serve the double function of rotating the jar and conveying the jar bodily, as Well as assisting in the reshaping of the metal cap to secure it to the jar.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinaftermore fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by Way of illustration one embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, also showing the guide 50 rail support;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2; D

Fig. 5 is a plan View showing a modified form of supporting and reshaping member,

and also a modified form of rotating and conveying member;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing a still further modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is an edge view of a cap adapted to be secured to a jar-by the devices shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view through the closing machine adjacent the receiving end thereof, and showing a still further modified form of my invention;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view adjacent the delivery end of the machine and embodying the invention contained in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a detail showing the rotating and conveying shaft used in connection with the invention illustrated in Figures 10 and 11.

The invention is directed to a jar closing machine" of the type shown, described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 433,796, filed of evendate herewith, and the present invention relates particularly to the manner of supporting, rotating and conveying the jar, and for reshaping the metal cap to attach it to the jar. This is accomplished in one form of the present invention by a cam rail which engages one side of the ledge at the mouth of the jar underneath which the flange of the cap is to be turned, and by a rotating shaft which engages the other side of the ledge at the mouth of the jar and the flange of the cap which is to be secured to the jar. The rotating shaft is also provided with a spirally lald rib or thread which positively conveys the jar through the machine'and causes the jar to roll along the cam rail. The rotating shaft and thread also aid in the folding of the flange underneath the ledge at the mouth of the ar. In another form of the invention, there is a rotating shaft at each side of the jar. These shafts are parallel and each is provided with threads. One of the shafts, however, is stationary, while the other rotates.

The invention will probably be better understood by a more detail reference to the disposed drawings which show one embodiment of the invention. The machine consists of supporting standard 1 which carries a frame 2 and mounted on this frame is a vertically shaft 3, which carries at its upper end a table 4:. The jars are indicated at J in the drawings. On this table are a series of U-shaped arms 5 between which are formed pockets 6 for the jars. The jars are fed into the pockets and on to the table by means of an endless belt 7 which runs over a belt pulley 8 carried by a shaft mounted in a bracket Qwhich is adjustably secured by means of bolts 10 to the frame 2. By adjusting the bracket 9, the slack may be taken out of the belt so that the jars will be fed on to the table. As a further means of insuring the jars being carried on to the table, which is of course very thin, and formed with a knife edge, if have provided a suporting roller 11 which is located underneath the belt substantially at a point where the jars pass on to the table. This roller 11 is carried by a bracket 12. The shaft 3 is rotated by means of a bevel gear 13 which meshes with a bevel gear ll carried by the shaft 15 journaled in brackets 16, 16 carried by the frame 2. At the outer end of the shaft 15 there is a sprocket wheel 17. A sprocket chain 18 runs over this wheel and also over the sprocket wheel 19 on the main shaft 20 and this main shaft 20 carries a belt wheel 21 driven by a suitable belt 22. The endless belt 7 runs underneath the table as clearly shown in the drawings and is driven from any suitable source at the other end of the belt.

At the receiving end of the machine there is a Vertical bracket 23. Fixed to this bracket 23 is a guide rail 24: which is curved throughout a part of its extent about the axis of the shaft 3 as a center. Said guide rail also has a portion thereof extending along the conveyor. The purpose of this guide rail is to insure that the jars shall be directed into the closing means carried by the machine. There is also a second guide rail 25 carried by the bracket 23 and extending along the outer edge of the table to insure the jars remaining on the table. and

this guide rail has a portion thereof extending along the conveyor belt, and the two guide rails are connected by the Ushaped bracket 26.

There is a bracket 27 at the rear of the delivery end of the machine, and the brackets 23 and 27 support the cam rail 28 which engages the-jar at one side thereof and supports the jar by the ledge at the mouth of the jar. As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4:, the jar in one form is provided with a projecting ledge 29. The metal cap indicated at C has a flange 30 which is adapted to be turned underneath the shoulder formed by this ledge 29. The

' aeeaese purpose of this machine is to turn the flange tightly underneath the shoulder and to accomplish this closing of the jar without plac ing undue pressure on'the jar, either ver tically or laterally, which might crush it. The cam rail 28 1s similar in construction to that shown in my prior patent application above preferred to, and is provided with a supporting ledge 31 and a vertical disposed face 32. This ledge 31 is inclined and therefore produces a cam action upon the flange as the jar is rolled along the rail and causes the lower portion of the flange to be turned underneath the ledge as above noted. Associated with thecam rail 28 is a pressure plate 33 which has'its forward end slightly turned up as indicated at 34: in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This rail is carried by suitable bolts 35, 35 which extcnd'through the supporting bar 36. Said bolts 35 have nuts on the upper ends thereof as indicated at 37 to limit the downward movement of the pressure plate. The supporting bar 36 is carried by the brackets 23 and 27. Also carried by this supporting bar 36 are threaded bolts 38; Each threaded bolt is provided with a cross bar 39 whereby it may be readily turned and with a fixed collar A1. The bolt extends a slight distance into a coiled spring T0. The upper end of this spring bears against the collar l1, and the lower end of the coiled spring bears against the pressure plate and this serves as a yielding means for forcing the pressure plate downwardly.

At the other side of the machine there is a pressure plate 42 carried by threaded bolts 35 having nuts 37. There is also a similar bar 36 through which these bolts extend, and this bar is carried by the brackets 23 and 27. There are likewise threaded bolts 38 having cross bars 39 and coiled springs 40 which bear against the upper face of this pressure plate 42.. The two pressure bars 33 and 42 engage the upper-face of the metal cap and yieldingly force the cap down on to the jar, thus cooperating with the cam rail in the turning of the flange of the cap underneath the shoulder on the jar.

As a means for feeding the jar through the machine and rotating it along the cam rail, T have extended the main shaft 20 which is parallel with the cam rail and provided the same with a thread 43. This thread is spirally wound on the shaft. The shaft is so disposed as to support the right hand side of the jar as viewed in Fig. 3 by engaging underneath the ledge at the mouth of the jar. It also supports the cap. The shaft 20 rotates in the direction of the arrow as indicated in Figures 3 and d, and as it rotates, it performs several functions. First. it tends to draw the lower portion of the flange 30 of the cap underneath the ledge on the jar; second, it rotates the jar Mill ' ward and this causes the jar to roll alon the cam rail, thus presenting all parts of the flange ofthe metal cap to the rail, which of course is stationary; third, through the rolling of the jar along the cam rail, it couveys the jar through the machine; and fourth, cooperating with the cam rail, it sup )orts the jar at the mouth thereof.

he jars are fed on to the rotating table 4 and the U-shaped arms 5 serve to space them a certain distance apart. The rotating table carries the jars round to a point where they are brought into contact with the supporting cam rail and the rotating supporting shaft, and then the shaft and rail take the jar ofl from the table and convey it through the machine.

As above noted, the cam rail has its supporting ledge 31 inc-lined so as to provide,

in a sense, an open mouth to receive thecap and the ledge of the jar, but as the jar moves along the cam rail, this cam ledge draws nearer to the pressure plate 33 and as a result, the lower portion of the flange of the metal cap will be turnedunderneath the ledge on thejar as shown in Fig. 4.

The rotating shaft assists in this drawing of the flange tightly underneath the shoulder, thus making a perfect seal. After the metal cap has been drawn tight on to the mouth of the jar, the jars pass out of the machine on to an endless belt 44 running over the pulley 45; The supporting bar 36 at the left of the machine as viewed in Figures 3 and 4, is capable of being adjusted laterally by means of bolt and slot connections as clearly shown in Fig. l. The shaft 20 is mounted in suitable bearings carried by the brackets 23 and 27, and also in a bearing 46 carried by a bracket 47 which is attached to the frame 2 of the machine.

The details of the brackets 23 and 27 may of course, be widely varied, and therefore, a description thereofhas not been given.

In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention wherein the main operating shaft indicated in these Figures at 48 is provided with a V-shaped spiral thread 49, which spiral is closely laid so that a series of .V-shaped threads will engages the flange of the cap at the same time. Cooperating with this rotating shaft 48 and in place of the cam rail, is a stationary shaft 50 having a similar V-shaped spirah' thread 51 thereon. The pressure bars and the support therefor are similar in construction to that. disclosed in connection with Figures 1 to 4. In this form of the invention. the rotating shaft 48 accomplishes, in a large part, the turning or the tucking of the lower portion of the flange of the cap underneath the ledge on the jar.

The V-shaped threads being more or less sharp, also break the metal at the extreme edge of the flange, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, and this of course, greatly assists in the tightly folding of the metal underneath the flange. along the stationary shaft 50, and these two shafts 48 and 50, together with the pressure plates 33 and 42 accomplish the turning of the lower portion of the flange underneath the ledge and thus the reshaping of the metal in the flange of the cap for securin the cap to the jar.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings, I have shown the form of metal cap which is similar to the ordinary crown cap on bottles. The edge is bent outwardly and corrugated, and this form of cap is secured to the jar similar to the securing of the crown cap to a bottle, that is, by bending this outwardly The jar is rotated and thus rolled projecting portion of the flange downwardat the mouth of the jar. In Fig. 9 I have.

shown a cap C having a flange 52 similar to that above referred to. The jar J has a shoulder 53, and the cap is secured to this jar by the inward bending of the flange 52 after it is placed on the jar.

The preferred form of machine for accomplishing this result includes a fixed shaft 54 having a spiral groove 55,.thus forming a thread 56. The rotating shaft- 57 is similarly constructed, and thus provided with a spiral thread 58. The jar is caused to roll along the fixed shaft 54, and the pressure bars 33 and 42 yieldingly force the cap down on to the jar, and the rotating shaft 57 will not only cause the jar to be rotated, but will bend the flange so as to secure the cap to the jar. These threads of course, extend throughout the full length of both the shafts 54 and 57, and are square in cross section.

In Figures 10, 11 and 12 I have shown a slightly further modified form of the invention, which is articularly adapted for securing the cap having a pocket 59 formed therein for an elastic sealing ring. The jar has a straight wall, and the seal is brought about by changing the shape of the pocket for the sealing ring, thus causing the sealing ring to grip the vertical wall of the jar.

In this form of the invention, I prefer to use a cam rail 60 which is carried by bolts 61 around eachof which is placed a coiled spring 62., This coiled spring bears against a washer 63 which in turn bears against a nut 64. This forms a yielding support for the cam rail 60 and holds the same normally raised into contact with a supporting bar 65 carried by a bracket 66. At the other .side of the machine, there is a rotating shaft 67 which is provided with a spirally formed curved channed 68. The curvature of this channel is substantially the same as the curvature 'of the cap and the side of the y The pressure channel terminate in ribs 69, 69. lhe shaft is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Figures 10 and 11, and the jar will follow the channel 68 and thus be caused to bodily travel through the machine. It will also be caused to rotate along the rail.

Directly above the shaft 67 there is a pressure rail 70 which is pivoted at 71. Coiled springs 72 bear against this rail and also against a collar 7 6 on a bolt 77 threaded into a rail 78 carried by brackets 7 9. This pressure plate 70 holds the jar down into contact with the shaft 67 and also holds the cap well down on the jar, but ,said pressure plate 70 will yield so as to not bring undue pressure upon the jar so as to crush the same. plate 65 is cut away at 80 so as to overlap the jar and hold the cap well down on the jar. lhe cam rail 60 is so shaped as to gradually reshape the pocket containing the gasket or rubber sealing band, and the reshaping of the pocket forces the gasket into contact with the wall of the jar and thus tightly seals the jar.

It will be noted that in all forms of the invention that the jars are caused to travel through the machine and roll along the fixed member by means of a rotating shaft, and this rotating shaft is so disposed and located as to assist in drawing the cover or cap well down on to the jar, and in certain forms of caps, to break the metal and thus assist in turning the metal underneath the ledge at the mouth of the jar, and in other instances, the shaft aids in the bending of the lower portion of the flange underneath the ledge at the mouth of the jar.

llt is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is-

1. A jar closing machine including in combination, a member along which the jar may be rolled, a rotating shaft parallel with said member and having means for engaging the jar and the cap for rolling the same along said member.

2. A jar closing machine including in combination, a member along which the jar may be rolled, a rotating shaft parallel with said member and having means for engaging the jar and the cap for rolling the same along said member, and ressure members engaging the cap for yiel ingly forcing the same on to the jar.

3. A jar closing machine including in combination, amember along which the jar may be rolled, a rotating shaft parallel with said member and having means for engagmg the jar and the cap for rolling the same along said member, pressure members en- 'same on to the ar,

neeaeea yieldingly forcing the and means for varying the pressure of said yielding pressure members.

4. A jar closing machine including in combination a member along which the jar may be rolled, a rotating shaft parallel with said member and having means for engaging the jar and the cap for rolling the same along said member, said member along which the jar rolls being provided with means for gradually turning the lower portion of the flange of the cap underneath the shoulder on the jar.

5. A jar closing machine including in combination, a member along which the ar may be rolled, a rotating shaft parallel with said member and having means for engaging the jar and the cap for rolling the same along said member, said mem er along which the jar rolls and said shaft being so disposed as to support the jar by the ledge at the mouth thereof. 4

6. A jar closing machine including in combination, a member along which the ar may be rolled, a rotating shaft parallel with said member and having a spiral thread formed thereon for engaging the jar and the cap for positively rolling the jar along said member.

7 A jar closing machine including in combination, a member along which the jar may be rolled, a rotating shaft parallel with said member and having a spiral thread formed thereon for engaging the jar and cap for positively rolling the jar along said member, and pressure members bearing on said cap for yieldingly forcing the cap on to the jar.

8. A jar closing machine including in combination, a member along which the jar may be rolled, a rotating shaft parallel with said member and .having a spiral thread formed thereon for engaging the jar and the cap for positively rolling the jar along said member, said member being provided with means for gradually reshaping the cap as it passes through the machine for securing the cap to the jar. I

9. A jar closing machine including in combination, a member along which the jar may be rolled, a rotating shaft parallel with said member and having a spiral thread formed thereon for engaging the jar and the cap for positively rolling the jar along said member, said member being provided with means for gradually reshaping the cap as it passes through the machine, for secur-- ing the cap to the jar, said member and said shaft being so disposed as to support the jar by the ledge at the mouth thereof durmg the securing of the cap to the jar.

10. A jar closing machine including in combination, a member along which the jar may be rolled, said member having means for'gradually turning the lower portion of gaging the cap for the flange of the cap underneath the ledge on the jar. and a shaft parallel with said member and having a spiral thread formed therein for rolling the jar along said memher,

11. A jar closing machine including in combination, a member along which the jar may be rolled, said member having means for gradually turning the lower portion of the flange of the cap underneath the ledge on the jar, and a shaft parallel with said member and having a spiral thread formed therein for rolling the jar along said member, said member and said shaft being so disposed as to support the jar by the. ledge at the mouth thereof.

12. A jar closing machine including in combination, a member along which the jar may be 'rolled, a pressure bar extending parallel with the member and cooperating with said member in turning the portion of the flange of the cap underneath the ledge on the jar, a shaft parallel with said memher and engaging the jar at the opposite side thereof from said member, said shaft having a spiral thread for rolling the jar along the member, a pressure bar for engaging the cap adjacent the shaft for holding the cap and lodge of the jar in contact with the shaft so that the rotation of the shaft will cause the jar to roll along said member, said member and shaft operating to support the jar by the ledge during the reshaping of the cap to secure the same to the jar.

13. A jar closing machine including in combination, a member along which the jar may be rolled, a pressure bar extending parallel with the member and cooperating with said member in turning the portion of the flange of the cap underneath the ledge on the jar, a shaft parallel with said member and engaging the jar at the opposite side thereof from said member, said shaft having a spiral thread for rolling the jar along the member, a pressure bar for engaging the cap adjacent the shaft for holding the cap and ledge of the jar in contact with the shaft so that the rotation of the shaft will cause the jar to roll along said member, said member and shaft operating to support the jar by the ledge during the reshaping of the cap to secure the same to the jar, and a rotating table adapted to receive the jars with the caps supplied thereto and feed the same in spaced relation to said member and shaft. 14. A jar closing machine including in combination, a cam rail along which the jars are rolled, a pressure 'bar associated therewith and yieldingly engaging the upper portion of the cap and forcing the edge of the flange against the cam rail, a rotating shaft at the opposite side of the jar having a spiral thread of such pitch that the jar engages the shaft between adjacent turns, said shaft and cam rail being so disposed as to support the jar by the ledge thereof during the reshaping of the flange, and a pressure member engaging the cap adjacent the shaft for holding the cap and jar in engagement with the shaft so that the rotatio of the shaft will roll the jar along the cam rail. 15. A jar closing machine including in combination. a cam rail along which the jars are rolled, a pressure bar associated therewith and yieldingly engaging the upper portion of the cap and forcing the edge of the flange against the cam rail, a rotatlng shaft at the opposite side of the jar having a spiral thread of such pitch that the jar engages the shaft between adjacent turns, said shaft and cam rail being so disposed as to support the jar by the ledge thereof during the reshaping of the flange, and a pressure member engaging the cap adjacent the shaft for holding the cap and jar in engagement with the shaft so that the rotation of the shaft will roll the jar along the cam rail, a rotating table for feeding the jars to the rotating shaft, said table having spaced members for delivering the jars in spaced relation to said rail and shaft and between adjacent portions of the thread on the shaft. 16. A jar cap closing machine including in combination, a member for supporting the jar by the ledge at the mouth of the jar and along which the jar may be rolled, yielding means for holding the jar cap in contact with said member, and a rotating shaft parallel with said member and having means for engaging the jar cap for rolling the jar along said member.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my slgnature.

THOMAS LUGIEN TALIAFE-RRO. 

